Well apparatus



H. E. AULMAN WELL APPARATUS Filed April 2, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l I I l IL' H. E. AULMAN WELL APPARATUS May 16, 1939.

Filed April 2, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 -FlE-2 May 16, 1939. H. E. AULYMAN WELL APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 2, 1938 Yr/f I ///////////l/// Patented May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

6 Claims.

'My present invention has to do with apparatus for improving the operation of pumps, as for instance water pumps, where two or several water bearing strata are tapped by the pump, and more particularly it is my purpose to provide means for eliminating as far as it is possible to do so air bubbles in the body of water acted upon by the pump thereby to greatly increase the efli- 10 ing the supply of water.

As an introduction to the specific nature of my invention it is pointed out that in ordinary practice a well is drilled which may pass through two or more water bearing gravel strata. Into this is placed a well casing which is provided with holes or slots at the water bearing strata to permit passage of water into the well casing where a common form of turbine pump is located to raise the water to the surface. In operation the water level before pumping, i. e., the static water level is lowered by the operation of the pump causing water to pass from the upper water bearing strata into the casing where it falls to the level of the water in the sump, or pumping level, creating 25 air bubbles in the water at the pump level which interferes with the operation of the pump due to the fact that the downward velocity of the water at the pumping level to the pump intake is greater than the buoyancy of the air bubbles in the water thereby forming air pockets or bubbles all through the water passing into the pump intake. Heretofore means have been provided to decrease the formation of air bubbles or pockets after the manner described above; this means consists in drilling an appreciably larger well hole than the diameter of the well casing, and filling in the space between the wall of the well and the wall of the casing with screened, washed gravel, graded to required size, and eliminating all open- 49 ings in the well casing except those below pumping level of water, or the sump, so that water from upper water bearing strata will pass down to the sump or pumping level through the gravel filler and outside the wall casing, thus eliminating falling water. However, with this means or method there is a great amount of fluid friction built up by the closely packed gravel filler which reduces the flow of water, and which cannot be eliminated unless excessively large well holes are drilledat greatly increased expense to the property owner.

As pointed out, my invention is designed to eliminate falling water, air bubbles and pockets, and to increase the efliciency of the pump, in a ciency of the pump without appreciably decreasmanner not contemplated by prior means and methods, as for instance that defined above.

-In addition to the main object of my invention; other and equally important objects may be briefly defined as follows: vl5

First: My invention contemplates the use of a supplementary casing forming a compartment to be placed about the main well casing at each water bearing strata, and provided with openings into which the water passes into the supplementary casing and thence down pipes outside of the main casing to the water at and below pumping level, i. e., the sump, so that water passing from an upper water bearing strata is transferred to the pumping water level in a solid column and without air bubbles or air pockets, and the flow of water is not interrupted;

Second: My invention is designed to completely eliminate gravel fillers about the well :casing and within an enlarged well hole to prevent formation of air bubbles; and is designed to accomplish elimination of air bubbles and to improve the operationof the pump at minimum expense and complication, and to attain the desired ends in a practical, certain and effective manner.

Third: There is provided means whereby the amount of water passing from the supplementary casing may be regulated to produce a solid column of water by means for cutting-off certain of the conduit pipes so that the active pipes will be served to desirable capacity from the water bearing strata, thereby eliminating possibility of broken columns of water and consequent possibility of air bubbles.

Fourth: Means arep'rovided for preventing formation of a partial vacuum which would interfere with the operation of the apparatus, and all of the parts of theapparatus are simple in construction and readily set up in operative relationship.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent as the detailed description of its several parts proceeds in conjunction with the drawings, but attention is called to the fact that changes may be made in the position, size, shape, relationship and configuration of parts to conform to the dictates of changing conditions of practice, and in that connection it is pointed out that the scope of my invention is to be determined from the claims.

In the drawings wherein is illustrated a preferred form of my invention:

Figure 1 is a side view of the same with the surrounding ground and water bearing strata broken away to show my apparatus as it appears assembled and in operation;

Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the same;

Figure 3 is a sectional view showing the arrangement of ball valves to control the flow of water to the sump;

Figure 4 is a detailed view of a ball valve and,

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

In the drawings wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like or similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings:

The numeral I designates generally a section of ground of any suitable depth and having two water bearing strata, the upper of which is designated 2 and the lower 3. The well hole 4 is drilled through both strata; the static water level being designated 5 and the pumping water level, or sump 6, it being understood that when the common type of turbine pump I is in operation the water level will drop from the static level 5 to the pumping level 6. All of the foregoing features are in ordinary practice including the type of pump and form no part of my present invention.

My invention comprises a well casing 8 the various sections of which are sealed, and which has a plurality of suitable slots or openings 8 below the pumping water level 6. The turbine pump 1 is positioned in the casing and has its intake below the pumping water level. At the point on the casing where the same passes through the upper water bearing strata 2 is a supplementary casing III having a plurality of slots or openings I I and which surrounds the well casing and is attached thereto and is closed at the top and bottom by an annular top wall I2 and an annular bottom wall I3, thus forming a chamber or compartment outside the well easing into which water from the upper water bearing strata passes through the slots or openings II. A series of conduits or pipes I4 pass into the supplementary casing Ill through its bottom wall I3 and lead into the well casing 8 below the pumping water level 6, suitable elbows I5 being provided for that purpose. Thus water passing into the supplementary chamber passes down through conduits I4 into the well casing in a continuous, unbroken or solid column, free from air bubbles or air pockets, and enters at a point below the pumping water level thereby increasing the emciency of the pump and providing a maximum stream of water. It will be understood that any suitable number of conduits I4 may be used. In order to eliminate the possibility of a partial vacuum, an air pipe I8 leads from the supplementary casing ID to the surface.

Since the possibility might arise when the capacity of conduits I4 might be greater than the supply of water from the upper water bearing strata thereby possibly inducing broken columns of water in the conduits; I have provided control means in the form of ball valves I'I one for each conduit I4 and having chain connections I8 leading to the surface, through air vent pipes I6 so that one or more of the conduits may be sealed by simply lowering the balls, thereby fully regulating the flow of water to the sump and eliminating possibility of bubbles and insuring a continuous unbroken stream free from air pockets or bubbles to the pump intake.

While it is believed that the operation of my invention is apparent from the foregoing it is pointed out that it is not necessary to use a gravel bed between the casing and the well hole wall to prevent formation of air bubbles in water passing from the upper water bearing strata to the pumping water level; nor is it necessary to considerably increase the diameter of the well hole to a point where the cost will be excessive; furthermore after the well hole is dug it is merely necessary to place my apparatus in the hole and prime the pump to insure the maximum supply of water and the maximum efiiciency of the pump; suitable sand, dirt or gravel filler may be used around the apparatus or the hole simply filled in if desired and as shown. Naturally the size of the apparatus may considerably vary and also the arrangement of the several parts, as for instance the position of the supplementary casing on the Well casing and the length, number and shape or the conduits and the type of ball valves used, however, the scope of my invention is to be determined from the claims appended hereto, and all variations within that scope is permissible and within the purview of my inventive concept.

I claim:

1. A well apparatus comprising a well casing having an intake below the pumping water level, a supplementary casing carried by the well oasing at a point disposed between the ends of the well casing and having a closed top and bottom and sides formed with openings and forming a chamber and positioned at a water bearing strata above the pumping water level and receiving water through the sides therefrom, and conduits connecting the supplementary casing with the well casing at a point below the pumping water level to prevent formation of air pockets and bubbles in water delivered to the well casing from the supplementary casing.

2. A well apparatus comprising a well casing having an intake below the pumping water level, a supplementary casing carried by the well casing having a top, sides and a bottom wall and forming a chamber positioned above the well casing at a point between the ends of the well casing and at a water bearing strata above the pumping level and receiving water therefrom through openings provided in the sides thereof, conduits connecting the supplementary casing with the well casing at a point below the pumping water level to prevent formation of air pockets and bubbles in water delivered to the well casing from the supplementary casing for the pump, and an air vent for preventing formation of a partial vacuum in the chamber of the supplementary casing.

3. A well apparatus comprising a well casing sealed throughout its length and having an intake below the pumping water level, a supplementary casing carried by the well casing having sides and a top and bottom and disposed about the well casing to form a separate chamber, said supplementary casing having openings therein and positioned on the well casing at a point between its ends and at a water bearing strata above the pumping water level and receiving water therefrom through the openings, a series of conduits between the supplementary casing and well casing and located outside of the well casing and entering the well casing below the pumping water level to deliver water in an unbroken stream from the supplementary casing to the pump in the well casing free from air pockets and bubbles, and means for preventing formation of a partial vacuum in the supplementary casing.

4. A well apparatus comprising a well casing having an intake below the pumping water level, a casing carried by the well casing and forming a compartment about the well casing and not communicating with the Well casing, said casing having openings and positioned between the ends of the well casing at a Water bearing strata above the pumping water level, conduits leading from the compartment formed by the casing to the well casing and pump below the pumping water level to prevent formation of air pockets and bubbles in water delivered to the pump from the water bearing strata above the pumping water level, and means for controlling the flow of fluid in the conduits whereby to preserve an unbroken or solid column of moving water in the conduits, and means for preventing formation of a partial vacuum in the compartment of the casing.

5. A well apparatus for use with several strata of water bearing gravel and the like one above the other, comprising a main well casing having an inlet for all water delivered thereto at a point below the pumping water level, separate means carried by the well casing between its ends and adjustable thereon to a position for receiving water from the upper water bearing strata, and means for delivering said water in an unbroken stream free from air bubbles and pockets to the intake of the main well casing and pump.

6. A well apparatus for use in wells having several separated Water bearing strata, comprising a main well casing having an intake below the pumping Water level, and separate means adjustable and carried on the main well casing to be disposed at Water bearing strata above the pumping water level, and means connecting the same with the well casing at a point below the a pumping water level to deliver water thereto and to the pump in a continuous unbroken stream free from air bubbles and pockets.

HARRY E. AULMAN. 

